UK Government Faces Pressure Over Hybrid Vehicle Ban Timeline

Industry and environmental advocates clash over whether full hybrids should be phased out by 2030 to meet net-zero goals.

The UK plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and all non-zero-emission vehicles by 2035, but the future of full hybrids remains under consultation.
Electric Vehicles UK (EVUK) warns that allowing full hybrids, like the Toyota Prius, to remain on sale beyond 2030 could undermine the country's zero-emission vehicle policies.
The government is consulting on emissions caps that could permit certain hybrid models to be sold until 2035, raising concerns about delayed investment in EV infrastructure.
Automotive industry stakeholders argue that a stricter hybrid ban could endanger jobs, including those at Toyota's Burnaston plant, which currently produces hybrid models.
A decision on the consultation is expected within weeks, with the government aiming to balance environmental goals and economic impacts on the UK automotive sector.